Archbishop of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of occupied Palestine Theodosius Atallah Hanna

Theodosius Atallah Hanna, the Archbishop of Sebastia from the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of occupied Palestine, said that the Israeli occupation committed a new crime in its attack on Palestinian worshippers in Al-Aqsa earlier today and called for the immediate release of all those who were arrested by the occupation forces.

Speaking to Al Maydeen via a phone call, Archbishop Hanna confirmed that the "attacks on Muslims in Al-Aqsa are an attack on Christians as well," and warned that what happened today in Al-Aqsa "may happen in the Church of the Holy Sepulcher."

"من #كنيسة_القيامة نقول.. سنبقى شعباً واحداً ومن يعتدي على المسلمين في الأقصى هو يعتدي على المسيحيين أيضاً".
رئيس اساقفة سبسطيا للروم الأرثوذوكس في #القدس المطران عطالله حنا لـ #الميادين. pic.twitter.com/xBTw0aZN9g
— قناة الميادين (@AlMayadeenNews) April 5, 2023

He pointed out that "Palestinian Christians, along with visitors and pilgrims from all over the world, are often subjected to insults by settlers," indicating that "the occupation treats the Palestinians in Al-Quds as if they don't belong to this land and they are bypassers."

"Al-Aqsa and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher in Al-Quds are inseparable twins," he stressed, adding that "We will not give up our Al-Quds and its identity."

The Archbishop's words came after Israeli occupation forces stormed on Wednesday dawn Al-Aqsa Mosque in occupied Al-Quds and brutally assaulted Palestinian worshippers who were stationed there as part of the religious practice of Itikaf, which is highly prevalent during the holy month of Ramadan.